​The Government of Saint Lucia has noted, with concern, the recent attack on the official website of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The security breach appears to be part of a trend of increasing cyber attacks of various kinds, regionally and internationally.

As the Government of Saint Lucia seeks to continually enhance its online presence and make more of its services accessible online, it is ever mindful of the increasing importance of cyber security. Consequently, it has embarked on a number of initiatives and has taken several proactive measures to reduce the possibility of successful attacks on government information and technology assets. These measures are multi-layered and involve active cooperation between personnel and collaboration with agencies and authorities at the national, regional and international levels.

The recent cyber attack in Saint Vincent highlights the need for everyone—public and private sector employees, civil society and individuals—to be cognizant of the importance of cyber security. Simple measures like strengthening passwords, changing them periodically and keeping them private; avoiding phishing attacks and other internet schemes that seek personal information; and conducting regular system updates and security scans of computers and networks can play a part in minimizing the risk posed by cyber threats.

The Government of Saint Lucia will continue to employ all practicable means to reduce its vulnerability to cyber attacks and to mitigate the impacts of such attacks should one take place.